Touring the County

Since the weather is cool, but beautiful, we'll be heading out on a Do-tique road trip to tour Prince Edward County. It is one of our favorite areas and is becoming well known for its wines, artesanal cheeses, fresh produce and antiques.

Take a look at

Taste Trail

Pumpkins on the ferry home (2009)                         Photo Credit: Filia Artis

Shopaholic

                                                                                   Photo Credit: Getty Images

Have you ever thought about what kind of shopper you are? It's sort of like the criminal profiling they do on those tv murder mystery shows - where is the serial killer going to strike next?

Are you a "sniper shopper" kind of person? You arrive at the store with one or maybe two items in mind. You limit yourself to whatever options are available there at that time, purchase and leave.

                                                                           Photo Credit: davidszondy.com

Or are you a "hunt and gather" sort of shopper? Hours spent online and looking at catalogs, gathering ideas from other people's homes and shopping around for weeks to finally get that perfect item (hopefully on sale by the time you've made up your mind!).

                                                            Photo Credit: Emile Frechon

When it comes to home furnishings, I am certainly an idea gatherer and slow to make a purchase. One of the ways that I collect ideas (in addition to reading countless design blogs, online shopping and studying catalogs) is to always take a digital camera along with me to the store.

I keep a file in iphoto of all the furnishings that I like and then it's easy to take a look at them when I am in my own home and to evaluate which styles I like and which I should perhaps leave for another project. One trick that I also do is to photograph the price tag so that I can get an idea of what a good price will be down the road. Somehow, it is also easier to judge whether the item is affordable when you get home rather than when you are enthralled in the moment at the store.

The final advantage to this technique is that you can put together an idea board at home with pieces from different stores and see how they all work together from the photos.

So, how about:

Ikea

Pier 1

HomeSense

HomeSense

Pottery Barn

Pottery Barn

Ikea

And if this sort of cut and paste, shop and shop and shop some more kind of project doesn't appeal to you, my recommendation would be to try out your local decorating centre. They can help you with picking out paint colours and they will often have access to lots of sample books with furniture, carpets, textiles and flooring and can put it all together for you. 

The two locations I have visited in Kingston are:

Reid & Siemonsen Design Group

and

Randall's Paint and Decorating

I have had pretty good experience with Randall's in terms of getting advice on choosing paint colours for my home. They have decorators on hand so if you come in with photos or samples for other parts of the room, they can help put the look together. A decorator will also come to your home for a charge and I believe you might receive a discount on the paint purchase if you use their decor services. I hear from the ladies there that they serve a large number of customers who have painted and are unhappy with their own colour choices, so if you are less than expert, it might be worth the cost to have someone help you get it right the first time.

I have not had a chance to try out R&S, but they do have an amazing sample room which you can get permission to look through yourself. There was virtually nothing you would not be able to find there!

DIY Rating:

10 for always taking a camera to the store with you

5 for thinking through whether you like to shop or 

whether you have room in your budget to hire some help

Did someone say "Equestrian"?

        Image courtesy of Heather Clawson at Habitually Chic

Any of my fair readers who know me personally will be quick to assure you that I am a serious horse fan! Though I have never owned my own horse, I had a chance to train for some years under riding master, Frank Grelo as a teen and have returned to riding again in more recent years.

Riding Master Frank Grelo and one of his Andalusian stallions

I am also a serious fan of Heather Clawson and her blog Habitually Chic. A short while ago, I posted this comment on her site:

"Speaking of which, since you love Hermes, which makes saddles, and Ralph Lauren, which is also always so equestrian, and since we're talking about ponies, maybe, just maybe you could have a post of any images of saddles being displayed as part of interior design...

Maybe this is because I just got a new saddle, but don't have a barn to keep it in and am not quite sure how to incorporate it into the decor. :-)"

In response, she has now created two awesome posts:

EQUESTRIAN CHIC 

Image courtesy of Heather Clawson at Habitually Chic

and 

EQUESTRIAN CHIC: PART DEUX

Image courtesy of Heather Clawson at Habitually Chic

This May, I became the owner of a new (used) Wintec Isabelle Werth dressage saddle which I am loathe to store away in a closet or in my laundry room. Heather has helped me come up with some great looks for horse stuff in the home and I look forward to sharing my final design with you in the near future.

Isabell Werth, German Dressage Champion at the Beijing Olympics, 2008

The "new" saddle which is technically for my daughter when she grows up...

Until then, tally ho and take a peek at Habitually Chic for a little taste of all things stylish, chic, pony club and New York!

Filia Artis and Jackson on a cold morning

DIY Rating: 10 for trying out riding horses

I have seen riders begin at 4 years of age and I have seen beginner riders in their 60's. 

It truly is a sport for anyone of every age and yes, it is a full body workout. 

Simply be warned that it is extremely addictive if you do happen to like it!

Women at Work

Jean Proctor (nee Young) 1938/39      Photo Credit: IWM / Jean Young

Since so much of my reading lately has been around women and WWII, I got to thinking tonight about women's role in the war effort, perhaps the greatest DIY project ever since each and every citizen was called upon to participate in some way. Above is a picture of a woman named Jean Proctor who was a member of the Women's Land Army in England back during WWII. These women helped to keep the British farms going in the absence of male farmers. Her story was featured here as part of the media coverage for an exhibition entitled "Outbreak 1939" at the Imperial War Museum, London. The exhibit, "highlights stories, voices and memories of the ordinary people who experienced the build up to and preparation for war."

Woman is working on a "Vengeance" dive bomber Tennessee, February 1943. Reproduction from color slide. 

Photo by Alfred T. Palmer. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

This is a beautiful image I also saw for the first time tonight of an American woman participating in the great industrial push that came along with the war. It is part of a set of the only colour photographs that were taken at this time in America and featured in a 2006 exhibit, Bound for Glory: America in Color. (hat tip to Plog, Photo Blogs from the Denver Post)

Women workers employed as wipers in the roundhouse having lunch in their rest room, Chicago and Northwest Railway Company. Clinton, Iowa, April 1943. Reproduction from color slide. Photo by Jack Delano. Prints and Photographs Division, Library of Congress

Above is an image of female railroad workers also from the same exhibit.

So all of this leads me to think about a particular expression I have been hearing a rather lot of lately...

It all started when I was pregnant and bored and started watching a lot of tv. There was a commercial for a local tractor dealer whose jingle began:

"Gotta git 'er done or just doin 'er for fun..."

I have also been hearing gentlemen encourage one another with:

"Git 'r done!" and "Giv' r good!" 

Since this blog deals a fair bit with getting things done, I have been wondering about how this phrase came about. Why is the job suddenly a passive "she"? Is it possible to "do him for fun" too? Maybe it is all as innocent as referring to a ship as "she"? I think I might find these expressions somewhat offensive, but I'm not sure if that is being overly sensitive.

I don't have much of an answer, but I hope these images will be a response - namely that these ladies sure as hell can give 'r right back when it comes to hard work!

On a more humorous note, this is more likely what the less-enlightened imagine when they picture woman + tractor:

Home Sweet Home

                                                                                            All Photos: Filia Artis

We three here at The Do-tique arrived home safely last night after our visit to Falher, Alberta, home of the world's largest bee and site of my sister-in-law's wedding.

We begin with a congratulations to the newly married couple on this special occasion!

The Bride and Groom made an exciting Alberta-style entrance into the reception atop a small John Deere tractor.

Since this is a blog about DIY culture, here is one of the many thoughtful wedding accessories that the new Mrs. I. created herself (with some help, I believe).

Here are the cute homemade jams that our bride presented to her guests as favors:

The Bride's gorgeous bouquet was made by a local grocery store. 

I got a bit of a "behind the scenes" look at how the DIY aspects of the reception were created. The key to Mrs. I.'s recipe was a small army of family and friends who were able to help with setting up all the decor for the hall and who provided all of the catering for the wedding as well as looking after cleanup.

Martha and many others would like to have us ladies believe that we should and indeed can do it all ourselves. My feeling is that it often leaves brides feeling much like my friend the bumblebee above. Brides-to-be must remember to delegate where possible and that time and sanity are priceless!

Baby and her cousin test driving the Bride and Groom's MG convertible

In other news, we did happen to receive this gift from Grandma and Grandpa, so stay tuned to see what it might be transformed into in the near future!

Image credit: Sticky notes available at See Jane Work

There will be a brief hiatus at the Do-tique. Regularly scheduled programming will return in about a week.

What could possibly pull the fine folks at the Do-tique away from their basement reno and tomato canning plans?

A journey to a place where local wildlife is honored and paid tribute to by way of monument:

Photo credit: Joan Kyle

So think of us when you hear this Canadian crooner:

We will be back soon with tales of adventures and some good photos, so keep those spoons and spatulas and hammers and screwdrivers going for us while we're gone!

DIY Rating: 0 

Best to leave the driving to your favorite airline! :-)

New and Improved

"The Peanut Gallery", from the Howdy Doody Show circa late 40's/early 50's

I have heard from some of my dear readers that the comment function here at The Do-tique is somewhat byzantine and difficult to use. My apologies as I am still quite new at blogging! Things should be easier now and since I am one who is never short an opinion, I'd be delighted to hear yours should you feel the urge to share a comment here.

If you are wondering about the photo above, one of my mother's favourite lines to us kids when one of us was putting forward a nosy and unsolicited viewpoint was, "No one asked the peanut gallery!"

DIY Rating: Hopefully a 10?? Is it easier now?